Display device



J. A. Gox-:LLr-:R 2,206,281

DISPLAY DEVICE July 2, 1940.

Filed Nov. 13, 1959 'l Patented July2, `1940 .l' j

PATENT OFFICE j DISPLAY nEvIcE` Joseph A.` Gloeller,"` Chicago, Ill., p assigner` to r Edward Prelitss, `Chicagalll.

Application November 13,1939, Serial No. 303,957

7 claims.

` The present invention relates generally to devicesfor displaying advertising and other panels. More particularly the invention relates to that type of display device which is adapted tof be bolted or otherwise xedly secured to a vertical or upstanding support and comprises Iagsheet metal housing with a window in the lfrontlthereof, and a frame in the housing having means for holding the panels behind the windcvvin" order r 10 that they may be readilyviewed from` a position infront of the device; a One object of the invention I display device of thistype which is generally of Nnew and improved construction yand mayf Lbe p manufactured at a lowl and reasonable costi* r Another object of the invention `is to provide a` display device of r the aforementioned type fin which the housing has a `plurality of vertically aligned and spaced slots in oneof its sides and the frame in the housing embodies a plurality of vertically spaced longitudinally grooved crossbars which constitute thefholdingor supporting means for thepanels and form `inlateral alignmentwith the slots `slidevvz'ilys wherebythe panels' purposes of replacement. y r Y, A `further object of the invention is to pro-- vide a display device of theflast mentioned character which has simple and novellock-eduipped means` for closing the slots" against unauthorized access to the panels.` r i Y f i r A still further objectof the invention islto i provide a display `device of the typeland `charac-` f ter under consideration inwhi'ch the "Sheet metal housing is constructed `in "such manner thatit is effectively reinforced and renderedrigid.

maybe slid from the frame" through the 'slots "for r Other objects of the;` invention andthe various i advantages and characteristics Iofthe present display device will be apparentjfrom aconsidera- 40 tion of the following detailed description.` r The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly dened by claims at the con# clusion hereof. 45 `In the drawing which accompanies and forms i a part ofthis specification or disclosure and lin which like numerals of" reference denote corresponding parts `tl'irougl'ioutthe several views:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview. of a display device embodying the invention" y u v Figure 2fisa rear perspectiveview" of the sheet metal housing, parts" being `brokenfaway for illustrative purposes;` 1 i i" Figure 3 is a rear perspective View ofthe frame illustrating in detail the construction thereof and showing the manner infwhichthe crossbar's of the frame form slideways forsupportingthe removable panels; 3 1 I v Figure 4 is` an enlarged vertical transverse secV o tion taken on theline `II-^4 `.of Figure l1; Vand `is "to prvide a Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and illustrating in detail the construction, design and arrangement of the means for controlling the side slots of y the housing against unauthorized removal of l theremovable panels. I

The display device which is shown Tin` the drawing constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is adapted to display a removable upper panel p, a fixed` or permanent intermediate panel pl and a removable lower panel p2 and comprises as the main parts thereof a boxlike housing 6 and a frame l. The removable upper and lower panelslpand p2` may,\if desired, beused to display advertising or` like matter. Theiixed or permanent intermediate panel p1 is preferably equipped with a thermom` eter t, a barometer b and a device d for indicatingthe amount of moisture or humidityfin th atmosphere surrounding the display device. l The thermometer and the dials and `indicating arms of the barometer b andthe humidity indicating device d are on thefront face of the panel p1, as shown in Figure 1. I `The `housing 6 serves as an enclosure for the three panels and is vertically elongated. It is i adapted tobe mounted or `secured against a vertical support (not shown) and consists of a front 8, a pair of` sides S and" IU, a top I I,Ia.bot`

' tom `I2 and a removable back I3.` The front,

sides,`top and botto-mare formed of asingle piece of sheet metal and together with the back I3 denne a compartment I4 for` the frame 1. `The front 8 is cut out as shown in Figure l to provide a rectangular window I5. `The latter permits the panels p, p1 and p2 to be viewed from the front of the 'display device.` `The sides 9 and IQ are joined tothe side margins of the front 3 and project rearwardly at right angles to the front. Theyextend from the top of the front to the bottom and are `arranged lin parallel relation. The top I I serves as a closure for the com# partment I4 and is joined to and projects rearwardly from the top margin of the front 8. It is flat,` as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and has end fianges I6 and a back flange I1. The end flanges areformed` integrally with and depend from the ends of the top I I and lap and are welded or otherwise iixedly secured `to the top margins of the housing sides. The back flange Il `extends upwardly and has holes I8 therein for accommodating housing` retaining bolts or screws (not shown) The bottom I2 is joined to and extends inwardly from the bottom margin of thefront 8 and embodies a pair of upstanding endflanges `I9 and a depending back flange 20. The end flanges are positioned in lapped relation with the bottom margins of the housing sides and are welded or otherwisexedly secured to suclrrnargins.` :The back fiangefZIl is coplanar with the back flange I1 of the top I I and has holes 2l for accommodating additional bolts or housing securing screws (not shown). The back I3 is of substantially the same size and shape as the front 8 and serves as a closure for the backof the compartment i4; It is formedV of sheet metal and has holes 22 therein in order to permit air to enter and circulate through the compartment. A panel 23 of glass and correspondingin size tothe backV I3-iit's against the rear face of the housing front 8 and serves as a transparent closurey for the front. ofV

the compartment I4. It is held in clamped relation with the front by th'e frame l and renders the panels p, pl and p2 visible through .the window I5 in the housing front.

Theframe l serves-as the medium `for supportingthepanels p5 p1 andi@2 in back of the window I5; It isydisposed yin*` the compartment I4',` as shown in Figures 4 and 5; and consists of a pair of vertically extending parallellyl arranged wooden side pieces 24 and 25-'and a series otfour vertically and equidistantly spaced crossbarsi26. The crossbars extend lbetween-'the side pieces24 and25 and serve to` hold the latter in laterally spaced relation. VThey are preferably formed of wood and located along the front margins of` the sidev pieces. The endsof the crossbars fit and are secured within notches 2'! in the side pieces as shown in Figure 3. Theside pieces fit against the inner faces of the sides 9 and I3 of the sheet metal boxlike housing Gand are secured in. place by means of screws: 28. AThe latter extend through holes in the housing` sides and into the side pieces of the frame and are so arrangedthat the frame operates to clamp they glass panel `23 against the inner ,face of the housing front 8'. The backv I3 of the housing nts-against the back faces of the frame side pieces 24 and` 25 and is removably secured thereto by means of screws 29;' Whenv it is desiredzto` gain access to thefcompartment I4 it.' is only necessary to remove the screws 29-and withdraw the back I3 from its op erative ornormal position. Thelcrossbars 230i theframeabut against the rear face of theglass panel 23;" as shown in Figure 4. The panel p1 with: the thermometer t, barometer b and humidity indicating device di iits between the two intermediate crossbars and is of such width that the side `margins thereof lap `tl'ie'front faces of the side pieces 24 and 25. Nails or brads extend through the side margins of the panel p1 and serve tohold the panel in fixedrelation with thetframe. The upper panel p is positioned be"- tween the two uppermost crossba-rs, as shown in Figure 3,.and directly.` overliesthe fixed or permanent panel p1. The opposed faces of the two uppermost crossbars of the framev 'I have hori- Zontallyr extending grooves 33 therein and these grooves form a slideway 3iwhereby the panel p may be slidrlaterally out ofv its operative position;

`The slidewayr 3l registers with a vertically ex-l tendingl slot32 in the upper portion ofthe housing side9 sothat the panel p maybe withdrawn fromrthe compartment i4 by sliding. it` laterally through such slot 32. When it is desired to re place the panel-p it is only necessary to slide the latter fromA the slideway 3I through-the slot 32 and then: insert the new panel through the slot and into the slideway. The slot 32 and the slideway areA substantially equal in height.. The lower panel p2A underlies the fixed or. permanent intermediate panel p1' and iits'between` the two lowermost crossbars 2.6'. The latter have horizontal'fulflength grooves .33 in the. opposed faces thereof and these grooves form `a slideway 34 whereby the panel p2 may be slid laterally from its operative position. The slideway 34 is aligned `with a vertically extending slot 35 in the lower portion of the housing side 9 in order that the panel p2 may be removed from the compartment I4 by sliding it laterally out of the slideway 34. The slot 35 is'vertically aligned with the slot 32 and is substantially equal in heightito the slideway 34.

In order to prevent unauthorized removal of the removable upper and lower panels p and p2 an upper closure'strip 3G and a lower closure strip 3'! are provided. The closure strip` 33 is for theV slot 32 and is mounted for vertical sliding movement by way of a pair di opposed vertically extending channel shaped guide strips-38. The latterextend from the top of the housing 3 to-'the bottom and fit against and are welded or otherwisexedly secured tothe inner faceofthe housing side 9; rIhey are positioned outwardly of the'sides ofthe slots 32 and 35: and form a verticallyextending slideway 39. The closure strip 36- is adapted when raised inthe slideway to close the slot 32` as shown in Figure l` and when lowered, to open' the slot. vTheupper end ofthe closure strip 36 is providedwith an outwardly extending ear 40. This ear extends through the slot 32 and forms a-handle whereby the closure strip y36 may be raised and lowered. Theend flange IIS-which lapsand` is'welded to theupper 1 margin of the housing side 9 -is providedwith an outwardly extending ear 4I. This ear is adaptedto overlietheear 49 when thel closure strip 36 is in its raised or closed position both ears, as' shown in Figure 1, have aligned 35is. exposed or openedl and access may be had. A

to the slideway 34 in which the panel p2 isretained. When the closure strip 31 is lowered the slot.y is` closed. and access to the slideway 34 is thusprevented. `The lower end of the closure strip 3'I- isprovidedwith an outwardly extending handle for-ming ear'43. The latter overlies an outwardly extending integrall ear 42 on the sub- I jacentv end flange I9l of the housing bottom I2.

The ears 43 and 44 have aligned apertures therein so that they may be secured or locked together by means of a padlock 45. When the two ears are locked. together by the padlock 45 the closure strip 31 is held against vertical sliding movek ment and thus prevents access to the slideway 34l and the panel p2. The slideway 34 of the frame I has a vertically extending groove 43 in the frontouter corner thereof for accommodating slideway forming channel guide strips 38.

When it is desired to replace the removable upper panel p the. padlock 42 is rst unlocked andn the closure strip 35 is then slid downwards into the intermedi-ate portion of the slideway 39 in order to open the slot 32. After sliding the closure-strip downwards the panel p may be removed `from its slideway 3| by sliding it laterally through ther slot 32, as previously pointed out. After replacementv of the panel p the slot 32 is closed by raising the closure strip 36 vand locking it in place by way of the padlock 42.r jRemoval. of thelower panel pi isacccmplished by 75;

releasing the padlock 45 and `sliding the lower closure strip 3'! upwards into the intermediate portion of the slideway 39. Theslideway forming guide strips 33 serve to reinforce the housing side 9 and assist in making the housing rigid.

The herein described display device because of its simplicity of design may be manufactured e at a low and reasonable cost.

scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. As a new article of manufacture, a displayV device comprising a boxlilre housing having a window in the front thereof and a `slot in one of its sides, a frame in the housing having a slide- .way in bach of the window and .in alignment with e `the slot. a display panel positioned normally inY the slideway and adapted to be removed by sliding it laterally out of the slideway through the slot, and. releasable lock equipped means .for clos-` ing the i slot and preventing unauthorized removal of the panel.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a display device comprising a boxlike housing having a window in the front thereof and a vertical slot in oneiof its sides, a frame in the housing having a siideway in back of the window and. in alignand out of closed relation with the slot and having lock means therefor whereby it may be locked in its closed position.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a display device comprising a boxlike housing having `a window in the front thereof and a vertical slot in one of its sides, a frame in the housing having a slideway in back of the window and in alignment with the slot, a display panel positioned normally in the slideway and adapted to be removed by sliding it laterally out of the slideway through the slot, a pair of opposed channel shapedrguide strips positioned at the sides of the slot and connected xedly to the inner face of saidl one side p of the housing, and a closure stripcarried bythe guide strips so that it is slidable into and out of closedrelation with the slot and having lock means therefor whereby it may be locked in closed position. i

4. As a new article of manufacture, `a display devicehaving a boxlike housing having a window in the front thereof and a slot in one of its sides, a frame in the housing having a slideway in back of thewindow and in alignment with the slot, a

e dispaypanel positioned normally in the slideway for View through the window and removable from one side of the housing s that it is slidable into and out of closed relation with the slot, and means for securing the closure strip in its closed position consisting of a. pair of apertured ears positioned one on said one side of the housing and the other on the closure strip and adapted to be locked together by a padlock.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a display `devicecomprising a boxlike housing having a window in the front thereof and a vertical slot in one of its sides, a frame in the housing having a slideway in back of the window and in align- `ment with the slot, a display panel positioned normally in the slideway `and adapted to be removed` by sliding it laterally out of the slideway through the slot, a pair of opposed channel shape guide strips located at the sides of the slot and secured xedly to the inner face of said one side ofthe housing, a closure strip carried by the guide strips so that it is longitudinally slidable into and out of closed relation with the slot, and means for securing the closure strip vin its closed posi- Vtionconsisting of apair of apertured ears positioned one adjacent the outer face of said one vhousing side at one end of the slot and the other on the corresponding end of the guide strip and adapted to be locked together by means of a padlock.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a display device comprising a boxlike housing embodying a front with a rectangular window opening therein and a pair of rearwardly extending sides, and having a longitudinally extending slot in one end of one of its sides, a frame disposed within the housing and embodying a pair of side pieces tting against the housing sides and a pair of laterally disposed crossbars located at one end of the side pieces and having opposed longitudinally extending grooves forming a slideway behind one end of the window opening and in alignment with the slot, a fixed display panel behind the other end of the window opening and extending across the other ends of the side pieces, a removable display panel positioned normally in the slideway and adapted to .be removed by sliding it out of the slideway and through the slot, and releasable lock equipped means for closing the slot `and preventing unauthorized removal of the pane.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a display `device comprising a vertical elongated boxlikev slideway and adapted to be removed by sliding it laterally out of the slideway and through the slot, a vertically extending closure strip mounted on the housing side so that it is slidablel vertically` into and out of closed relation with the slot, and means for securing the closure strip in its closed position comprising a pair of outwardly extending apertured ears attached one tothe flange and the other to the upper end of .the closure strip and adapted to be locked together by Way of a padlock. i

JOSEPH A. GOELLER. 

